By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for stronger legal support for Nigerian Army commanders as the Service expands its formations, units and operational footprint across the country.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Shaibu made the call on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while declaring open a specialised training workshop for officers of the Directorate of Legal Services (Army) in Abuja.
Represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi, the COAS said the expansion of the Nigerian Army must be accompanied by stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), human rights and military justice.
He said the increasingly complex and fluid nature of contemporary security operations required commanders at all levels to have access to timely, practical and operationally relevant legal advice.
Shaibu stressed that the Army’s expansion was not merely about increasing formations, units and personnel, but also about strengthening the professional, administrative and institutional frameworks required to sustain an effective, disciplined and accountable force.
The workshop, themed “The Role of Legal Officers in Advising Commanders on Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and Military Justice System,” is aimed at enhancing the capacity of Army legal officers to advise commanders on civilian harm mitigation, protection of medical personnel and facilities, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, autonomous weapon systems and other evolving aspects of modern warfare.
The COAS emphasised that adherence to the principles of military necessity, humanity, distinction, proportionality and precaution remained critical to achieving military objectives while protecting civilians and maintaining public confidence in military operations.
He further said legal officers must be adequately prepared to support commanders at the strategic, operational and tactical levels as newly established formations and units become operational across the country.
According to him, effective legal support would help commanders translate constitutional provisions, applicable international law, military statutes and Rules of Engagement into lawful and decisive action in complex operational environments.
Shaibu described military lawyers as having a dual responsibility to safeguard discipline within the force while ensuring that the application of military power remains anchored on the rule of law.
He said strengthening the Army’s legal capacity was therefore an important component of the ongoing transformation of the Service into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
Earlier, the Acting Director of Legal Services (Army), Colonel Samson Okebukola, said the training would strengthen the ability of legal officers to understand operational realities and provide appropriate legal guidance to commanders on the application of IHL and military support to civil authorities.
Okebukola said the Nigerian Army’s commitment to lawful operations was reflected in its adherence to IHL principles in Operation HADIN KAI and the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution during internal security operations, including Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Describing military legal officers as “soldier-jurists,” he said they carry the rule of law into operational environments by integrating legal considerations into planning, execution, discipline and accountability.
He added that strengthening the professional competence of legal officers would enhance commanders’ decision-making, protect civilians and military personnel, reinforce accountability and strengthen the Army’s ability to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
